Daily Wagers The Worst-Hit Due To Coronavirus & Lockdown. Here's What Govt Is Doing For Them
In wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the daily wagers are hit the most. The COVID-19 scare has affected the livelihoods of daily wage earners due to slowing down of the economy. Coming to their rescue, the state governments across the country are planning to give unemployment benefits to contract and temporary workers who have lost their jobs temporarily due to the challenges posed by the virus.
India, last night, announced a nationwide shutdown starting today for the next 21 days.
The labour ministry has directed central ministries and states concerned to ensure that employers don¡¯t fire their employees, particularly contractual or casual workers, or reduce their wages amid the Covid-19 outbreak as it would deepen the crisis.
BCCL
Under these circumstances, daily wagers are bearing the greatest brunt.
The state governments have introduced a slew of financial measures for domestic workers, construction workers and daily wagers.
Delhi
The Delhi government will pay salaries for all contractual staff, daily wage staff and guest teachers employed at places which have been closed in view of the coronavirus outbreak.
The Corona restrictions causing terrible financial stress to poor. Following decisions taken to provide them relief-
1. Rs 4000- 5000 pension will be paid to 8.5 lakh beneficiaries by 7 Apr
2. Free rations, with 50% more quantity than normal entitlements, to 72 lakh beneficiaries
Kejriwal further said that people should not discriminate against and harass those professionals such as doctors, nurses, pilots and air hostesses who are extending help in this fight against the virus.
Uttar Pradesh
The Yogi Adityanath-led government announced that it will provide financial assistance to daily-wage labourers in the state who will be hit by the shutdown.
The UP government has announced a financial package of over Rs 353 crore to give cash handouts to an estimated 3.53 million daily wage earners and labourers, who are likely to be hit due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Additionally, an amount of Rs 1,000 each will be given to 1.5 million daily wage labourers and 2.03 million construction workers across the state through direct benefit transfer. The beneficiaries include rickshaw pullers, hawkers and kiosk owners.
The state has also decided to provide free food grains for the months of April and May in advance to more than 8.38 million widow, old age and handicapped pensioners next month.
Kerala
Kerala government has announced a Rs 20,000-crore economic package to mitigate the state through the crisis.
The financial package is bigger than the relief package announced during history's worst floods in 2018. The package is also bigger than the central government economic package of Rs 15,000 crores.
Rs 2,000 crore will be distributed as a village employment assurance programme for April and May.
Foodgrains will be provided to families from all spectrum whether they are below the poverty line or not.
Punjab
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has declared an immediate relief of Rs 3,000 to each registered construction worker in the state.
The money will be transferred to banks accounts to help them through these tough times.
A total sum of Rs 96 crore has been earmarked for this purpose.
Haryana
The Haryana government has announced financial assistance for people in Below Poverty Line (BPL) category and low-income groups like daily wagers, labourers, street vendors and construction workers. These measures will cost the state government Rs 1,200 crore per month.
At such adverse times, such initiatives by the state governments for the less privileged comes as a welcome change.